Steering elements of small and medium-sized motor cultivators



April 26, 1949- J. M. GARNIER STEERING ELEMENTS OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED MOTOR CULTIVATORS Filed 001;. 18, 1946 WM @fw Patented Apr. 26, 1949 STEERING ELEMENTS OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED MOTOR CULTIVATORS Jacques Marie Garnier, Neuilly sur Seine, France, assgnor to M. A. B. E. C. Socit Anonyme, Levallois-Perret, France, a corporation of France Application October 18, 1946, Serial No. 703,937 In France January 9, 1945 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires January 9, 1965 (Cl. 74-55L3) 8 Claims. 1

On small and medium-sized motor cultivators the steering elements which generally consists of two handles are usually hinged relatively to the body of the cultivator to enable their angle of inclination to be varied, the said elements being adapted to be maintained in the desired position by a locking device. It is in fact necessary to be able to alter the inclination of these elements with a view to adapting the motor cultivator for example to the height of the driver or the nature of the work to be carried out.

The locking devices employed in the known motor cultivators may be either locally or remote controlled from the handle grip of one of the handles through a rod gear or a cable of the Bowden type. The first of these methods of control entails a number of drawbacks owing to the fact that it necessitates the driver releasing his hold of the handles to effect the adjustment and that the point of articulation of the said handles is often dicult of access. Moreover, the remote control by means of a rod gear or cable is generally complicated, occupies considerable space and is readily exposed to wear and tear.

The present invention has for its object a regulating device which permits of obviating the above mentioned drawbacks. This device consists mainly on the one hand of a substantially cylindrical surface or part of a surface integral with the said body and having an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the latter and on the other hand two members adapted to screw one into the other and connected respectively to the two handles of the motor cultivator and interposed between the external Dart of the cylindrical surface and a stop coupled to an element impinging against the internal part of the said surface, the said two members being adapted to press on the one hand against the stop and on the other hand against the external part of the cylindrical surface.

The cylindrical surface integral with the body of the cultivator may for example be provided with a slot located substantially in the axis of the said cultivator and traversed by a bolt adapted to slide in the said slot and maintained inside the cylindrical surface by a nut. The parts adapted to screw one into the other and integral respectively with each of the handles and traversed by the bolt, are thus applied on the one hand against the head of the said bolt and on the other hand directly or indirectly against the external part of the cylindrical surface, the nut maintaining the bolt being applied in turn directly or indirectly against the internal part of the said surface.

It will be readily conceived that the two parts screwing one into the other act as an expanding separating washer. Any movement apart of the handles for example, causes the said parts to screw one into the other and in consequence leads to a reduction in the thickness of the washer which they constitute, whence it results that the cylindrica1 surface is no longer tightly held between the said parts and the check nut on the bolt. The latter may then be caused to slide in the slot by raising or lowering the handles. A movement in the opposite direction, for example the bringing of the handles closer together causes the parts engaging one in the other to be unscrewed and thus brings about an increase in their total thickness, the cylindrical surface being again clamped between the said parts and the check nut, so that the bolt is again locked in the new position which they have been given.

Other details of the invention will appear from the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows by way of example an embodiment of the device according to the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the device;

Fig. 2 is a plan View;

Fig. 3 is a lateral diagrammatic View of the whole motor cultivator fitted with a device in accordance with the invention.

In the device illustrated, I is a hollow arm integral with the body of the motor cultivator and in which is adapted to slide a rod 2 actuating the control elements of the motor tted in the cultivator. The rod 2 incorporates a pin 3 cooperating with a fork 4 carried on the end of an operating lever 5 adapted to pivot on the arm I and entering the latter through a slot 6.

On the end of the arm I is welded a metal cylinder 'I having its axis perpendicular to that of the said arm and on the surface of which is provided a slot 8 arranged in the prolongation of the arm I. This slot is traversed by a bolt 9 fitted with a head IIJ and the threaded end of which is cut into the shape of a fork and engages with longitudinal play II on the spindle I2 centred in the cylinder and mounted on supports I3 xed to the inside of the cylinder.

Screwed on to the bolt 9 are two washers I 4 and I5 each having a cylindrical face corresponding respectively to the internal and external surfaces of the cylinder 'l and adapted to be tightened against the said faces, on the one hand between a nut I6 held by a lock nut I'I and on the 3 other hand a sleeve I8 externally threaded at I9. The saidsleeve I8 cooperates with; a tapped bush`A 20 likewise s'rwe'd the shank; ofthe' bolt 9' and impinging against the head I of the latter through a bearing surface 2 I.

One of the handles 23 of the motor ultivator is welded on to the bush 20, theY :otlfie handle" 24 being Welded on to a segment '22 Having' tw stops 25 limiting the relative displacement of the-hanf dle 23 and of the segment 22.- Fi-nally', a spriiig 26 is secured by its respective en'd's totwo lugs 21 carried on the handles 23 and 24. The pitch of the screw thread on the sleeve I8 'of the bush 20,` is such that the separating o`f the handles' -2li and 24 causes the sleeve to enter the bush 1and ineensequence the unscrewing of the wa liefsZ Il!` aridi I and inversely bringing the handles? lose t-f-l' gether causes the washers to be tightened against the cylindrical surface] thus locking the bolt ilH with respecty to the latter. rlvhe provisionof the segment 22, the" stops 215 and thesprir'ig' 26 is not indispensable. A ,l v U rde to' vay the" angle f inclination of "for Vcultiva'for Handies rrer example* as df the drivers height, it is' therefore' lent to' separate' the handles lby' ve'roming' act' or me spring; Y2t gives sharp tap t' un ck the" Washers I41ad I 5. By"raising'y or lpweiing the handles as" the c'as ""'a'y b' the bolt 9 is displaced the slot 8 and on e" the' handles f` the desired position it is' s'ici'ent suddenly t z fi'g thex'ii l'ser tgethe' again to' lck the whole mechanism in' that ps'iti. I 'l x Fig, 1" shows the two extreme sitioiis fr the adjustment orme device', tli'first no' tro Being slw in' dashed lines and the'seciid position i dash-d es'. l As' will' b' apparent this' adjustment islt'ai'i'ied d'ectby acting on the handles l theiieed fr releasing" the latter' and wi t the aid dia remote coiitl from the handle giflps, for example by means df aexible cable of the" Bowden fin- 1'. adjustable steering fdr" marually steered apparatus comprisinga /s'u'ppofrtfhaving internal and externall conceitic Vc'yliridrieal surfaces, said support being iiiledY to the' apparatus, an internal Aclampingeleinet engaging' the inner'xcylindricalsurface of tliesuppcr't, an`- ex-l ternal clamping element engaging the external cylindrical surfwace of the support, apair of interthreaded members, means interconnecting the interthr'eaded members and clamping xelemerits,` and a steering handle carriedby eahoi said interthr'eaded members f or eiiec'ting relative rotatgn of said members to clamp said'l clamping ele' merits onto and release the saine iromthe cylindrical surfaces of the support whereby the clamping elements; stud and associated members may be VV shiftedto difierent positionsonthesupport.l

2, An adjustable steering mechanism for man1- uallyv steered apparatus-l comprising a support having internal and external concentric cylin-V dricai surfaces,- saidA support being xed to the apparatus,` an internal clamping element engaget ing the inner Acylindrical surface of the support, an externalv c1 amping. elet-nenty engaging the eis4 ternal cylindrical surfaceY of the support, a studextending through said clamping elements,l stops on the inner and outer ends of saidL stud,I a pair or interthread'ed members mounted` on the stud between the external clamping element' and th eXen-'al stop, zii-*lfd a Steeig liaiffdle7 di'ed by' 'clfr f saidihterthreaded membes for effecting? I from the cylindrical ces df the sli-'5p relative rotation of -said members to clamp said clamping elements onto and release the same ironithe cylindrical sufifaes i the support whereby the clamping elements, stud and associated members may be shifted to different positions on the support.

3.; adjustable steering mechanism for maniially steered apparatus comprising a support having interna-1 and external concentric cylindrical surfaces, said support being xed to the apparatiis and having a circumferential slot formed therein, an internai clamping element engaging the inner cylindrical surface of the support, an ex fia-l clamping element engaging the external cyhndiical surface of the support, a stud extendng thoii'gh said clamping elements, and said slot, steps on the inner and outer ends of said studi,- a pair of interthreaded members mounted or the stud between the external clamping element and the external stop, and a steering handle carried byleach of said intertl'eadd Ifrembersfor eiectingrelati e 'ta .Y 6i s bers to cul-'ampi said clamping' elfeiire'nt-s in o and release the saine from the' cylidrieai sfaces thewsuppoift' whereby the clamping elef eiits st Ld and; associated members" may be shifted to diff: ferent positions on the support. y,

n adjustable steering formatie' fl steeredapparatus compr ing? a'supprt ing'- internal' and external c" Y end f the bolli, arid Steering "le gar-'fied eaci f said intertlireaded menbefs fdrL lebt# me relative rotation of sais i sa clamping eleI-rier-ts`I nt 5';l Anv adjustable steering mechanism for' mi* early steered' apparatus cdm'prisingl a apport ingl internal andL external concentricvr cylindrical surfaces, said support being 'xct td the appara: tus;J and having a circumferential slot formed therein,` an' interna-l clamping element engaging the inner cylindrical surface of the support; an; external clam-ping elementl engaging the externalcylindrical surface oi the supportabolthaving a headn and vextending through said clamping elements` and slot, a pairlof interthreadedmembes mofu'ted n" the bolt bett/"eenthe fieadfarid tle external cl'a."mi5i1g" element', a 6h' tlfr in end of the bolt, and a steering ha die by' each of saiditerthreacledme" irig lrelative rotation of said member to cl: said clampingie'mentso andi eias the sa from" the y cylindrical' su' es? of whereby' the clamping eleme ^tu i' ciated members may be shifted toi `iiiefiit-pos1-= tierisii thesupport, and means' for locking saidf' nut n? said bolt.

e; adjustable steen-ngi ilia'lly" steeredapparatusV comprisih' having-v internal e'x't hal cbzic" y dricalr surfac s,- said supper being fixe l l apparatus; andi having a circui'iiliefentia-lg slet formed therein, an internal clamping element engaging the inner cylindrical surface of the support, an external clamping element engaging the external cylindrical surface of the support, a bolt having a head and extending through said clamping elements and slot, a pair of interthreaded members mounted on the bolt between the head and the external clamping element, a nut on the inner end of the bolt, and a steering handle carried by each of said interthreaded members for effecting relative rotation of said members to clamp said clamping elements onto and release the same from the cylindrical surfaces of the support whereby the clamping elements, stud and associated members may be shifted to different positions on the support7 the inner end of said bolt having a, transverse slot therein, and a shaft extending axially through said support and the slot in the end of the bolt.

7. An adjustable steering mechanism for manually steered apparatus comprising a support having internal and external concentric cylindrical surfaces, said support being fixed to the apparatus, and having a circumferential slot formed therein, an internal clamping element engaging the inner cylindrical surface of the support, an external clamping element engaging the external cylindrical surface of the support, a bolt having a head and extending through said clamping elements and slot, a pair of interthreaded members mounted on the bolt between the head and the external clamping element, a nut on the inner end of the bolt, and a steering handle carried by each of said interthreaded members for effecting relative rotation of said members to clamp said clamping elements onto and release the same from the cylindrical surfaces of the support whereby the clamping elements, stud and associated members may be shifted to different positions on the support, and resilient means urging said handles to a position to effect clamping of the clamping elements on said support.

8. An adjustable steering mechanism for manually steered apparatus comprising a support having internal and external concentric cylindrical surfaces, said support being fixed to the apparatus, and having a circumferential slot formed therein, an internal clamping element engaging the inner cylindrical surface of the support, an external clamping element engaging the external cylindrical surface of the support, a bolt having a head and extending through said clamping elements and slot, a pair of interthreaded members mounted on the bolt between the head and the external clamping element, a nut on the inner end of the bolt, and a steering handle carried by each of said interthreaded members for effecting relative rotation of said members to clamp said clamping elements onto and release the same from the cylindrical surfaces of the support whereby the clamping elements, stud and associated members may be shifted to different positions on the support, and resilient means urging said handles to a position to effect clamping of the clamping elements on said support.

JACQUES MARIE GARNIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTSA Country Date France Nov. 20, 1926 Number Number 

